This and That and Talk - My Transplant

Hi @mauraacro! I’m so glad you found our group – I’m another one of the moderators here and wanted to extend a virtual handshake and tell you it’s so nice to meet you.

Thank you for sharing that you will be donating a kidney next month. As Rosemary said, you are a "living hero", and I can understand why you would be feeling both excited and nervous! I’m sure your care team has done a fabulous job thoroughly preparing you for this journey, here's another resource you may find helpful:
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/page/transplant/tab/resource-36/
I thought some patient stories might also give you a little boost of confidence 🙂
https://sharing.mayoclinic.org/2015/08/13/marathoner-and-ironman-michael-koetting-back-in-the-race-after-donating-kidney
https://sharing.mayoclinic.org/2017/01/05/you-never-think-about-a-living-donor-until-someone-you-love-needs-one
https://sharing.mayoclinic.org/2015/04/21/living-kidney-donations-save-two-lives-in-the-same-family-years-apart
https://sharing.mayoclinic.org/2015/09/16/new-kidney-from-sister-gives-hurdler-a-chance-at-2016-olympics
https://sharing.mayoclinic.org/2016/10/19/living-donor-to-kidney-recipient-i-feel-like-the-winner-in-all-this
Would you be willing to share what inspired you to be a living donor?

I can't tell you exactly what inspired me to donate at this time. Organ donation has been in the back of my mind for a long time. I offered to be tested to donate to my father but his illness had progressed too far, he died a year ago.
I saw a post online asking if any o+ people would be willing to be tested as a donor, that her mother had been on dialysis for 4 years and was losing hope and health. I filled out forms, had a million blood draws, many tests, talked to countless medical people and here I am today. I have since "met" the recipient through phone calls and email. We will meet in person in less than 2 weeks to prepare for surgery.

@mauraacro, Thank you for sharing this message. And thank you for sharing the gift of life.

I imagine that the next 2 weeks will feel like an eternity for you. I will be thinking of you and your recipient. I will be praying for you, for your recipient, for your surgeons and transplant team, for your caregivers, and for both of your recoveries.

I hope that you found some of the information that we have provided to be helpful.
Would you keep in touch, and afterwards let us know about how the donor process works?

Rosemary

@mauraacro, Will you be doing this transplant long distance?
I offer a recommendation of lodging if you are at Mayo Rochester - The Gift of Life Transplant House.

My husband and I spent 11 weeks there from Feb - May in 2999. We had the opportunity to meet many others waiting for, and recovering from transplants - living donors, too. I was always impressed with the recovery and the encouragement I felt by seeing the living donors. Their stay was usually brief, and I never did get to know any of them.

It is our preferred lodging when we return annually. I know that the other Mayo Campuses also have transplant housing that are equally rated. Here is information if you need it.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/departments-centers/transplant-center/sections/locations-travel-lodging/ptc-20203900
Rosemary (Liver/kidney 2009)

@glinda,, How far did you travel to Rochester for your heart transplant? Are you familiar with the Gift of Life House in Rochester?

I know that a large number of the Mayo transplant patients choose to stay at the Mayo associated lodgings. We would love to hear from them.
Rosemary

Hi Rosemary and i am only 2 hours from rochester and yes i did stay at the gift of life transplant house from january 2011 to april 2011 i stay in the south house which is the older house I went straight from the hospital to the gift of life house. I am getting ready to go back to rochester on the 2nd thru the 4th for my annual but i won't be staying at the gift of life house i will be staying at the kahler grand which is okay with me that leaves a room open for another transplant patient that needs it more then me but if I ever have go through another transplant I will go and stay back at the gift of life i enjoyed my time there and its a beautiful place to stay

@lcamino, I hope that you have been enjoying a restful Holiday Season! I want to wish you a Happy, Healthful, and Hopeful 2018!

The year 2017 has been full of many friendly and supportive conversations on this forum. I want to personally thank you for your participation. I hope that 2018 will provide us with more opportunities for meeting and sharing:-)

I would like to also point out that there has been increased activity in this discussion and in Living Donor Discussion that might be of particular interest to you.

Hugs, and Hope, and Happiness for 2018!
Rosemary

@2011panc, I want you to know that I have been thinking about you. I tend to do that sort of thing during the holidays: remembering special people especially fellow transplant recipients. I just feel a real bond and kinship to anyone related by transplant. I don't know if others feel that way - that might be something to further investigate or discuss at another time.
I hope that you were able to enjoy a relaxing Holiday Season with loved ones. And I hope that you are feeling okay. We have not heard from you in a while, and I am a little concerned about you.

I would like to wish you a Happy and Healthful 2018. I invite you to take a look at the recent additions to our conversations, and to meet some of our newest members. We would love to hear from you. And I know that our newest members would love to meet you:-)

Hugs and Prayers,
Rosemary

@contentandwell, I want to wish you a Happy and Healthy 2018!

I know that 2017 has been a busy year for you - and Best of all you celebrated your 1st Transplant Anniversary! That is a great milestone. I still remember how excited I was to pass that first milestone, but I honestly don't know how others feel about it. But I get that way on my transplant anniversary (transplantiversary) every year!

I hope that you will be feeling ready to rejoin our conversations in the New Year! We have some new members and I know that they are eager to meet you "in person" via Mayo Connect!

Hugs and Health,
Rosemary

I will probably post from the hospital! I'm not a good "sick" person but I want to heal quickly and stay healthy so I am going to try to follow doctor's orders and do exactly as they recommend. That may be the hard part for me as I like to keep busy. The recipients family has been wonderful and have assured me that they will help keep me occupied and help my husband as needed.
I toured the gift of life house when I was in town for testing. I loved it there and would have been happy to stay but my husband will need to spend some time working so the recipient graciously offered to rent us an apartment a block from Mayo.
I am surprised that there is not much input from donors here. I've read some of the stories but can't find much else. Mayo has done a great job of telling me about the procedure but they can only give me medical facts or second hand info. learned from donors. I want to hear about real life things like, how was the plane trip home, will my dog break open my stitches and what loose fitting clothes can I wear when its 4 degrees outside? None of these are important but its what my brain keeps going to, maybe to avoid thinking about the actual surgery. If there are any donors or potential donors wanting info from me, I'll gladly share what I've gone through so far.